108 
691 


) 


THE  JEWS  IN  ROUMANIA 


SPEECH 


OF 


HON.  J.  HAMPTON  MOORE 


THE 


HOUSE  OF  REPRESENTATIVES 


TUESDAY,  JUNE  24,  1913 


4401°— 12190 


WASHIXGTON 
1913 


HOX.  J.  HAMPTON  MOORE. 

Mr.  MOORE.  Mr.  Speaker,  at  the  instance  of  certain  of  my  constituents  who 
are  students  of  international  conditions,  I  have  introduced  a  resolution  request- 
ing the  Secretary  of  State  to  inform  the  House  with  respect  to  the  prospects  of 
an  adjustment  of  the  problem  of  the  Jews  in  Roumania.  Since  the  Russo- 
Turkish  War  and  the  Berlin  treaty  of  July,  1878,  there  have  been  frequent 
reports  of  the  failure  of  the  Roumanian  Government  to  observe  that  clause  of 
the  treaty  which  provided  that  citizenship  should  not  be  denied  on  account  of 
religion.  It  is  claimed  by  Jews  who  have  migrated  to  the  United  States  that 
the  citizenship  clause  was  inserted  on  the  motion  of  the  French  plenipotentiary, 
M.  Waddington,  seconded  by  Lord  Disraeli,  of  England,  especially  with  a  view 
to  the  rights  of  those  natives  of  Rouuiauia  who  responded  to  the  Jewish  faith. 
It  appears  that  these  complaints  were  officially  recognized  by  John  Hay,  the 
Secretary  of  State,  in  1902,  and  that  there  was  considerable  diplomatic  corre- 
spondence with  reference  thereto,  without  effectuating  relief.  As  late  as  1904 
it  was  reported  to  the  Secretary  of  State  that  a  better  feeling  existed  as  between 
the  so-called  "indigenous  Jews/'  and  the  Government  and  that  certain  of  the 
Jewish  newspapers  advised  "  a'gainst  any  measures  from  outside  in  behalf  of 
Roumanian  Jews." 

Little  appears  to  have  been  done  since  1904  by  the  United  States  or  any  other 
country  to  induce  the  Roumanian  Government  to  place  itself  in  harmony  with 
the  other  powers  signatory  to  the  Berlin  treaty  on  the  Jewish  citizenship  ques- 
tion. The  attitude  of  the  Roumanian  Government,  hedged  about  as  it  is  by 
contending  and  ambitious  powers,  appears  to  have  been  directed  toward  keeping 
the  Roumanian  nationality  free  from  possible  Jewish  assimilation.  It  was  esti- 
mated by  Mr.  Hay  in  1902  that  the  number  of  Jews  in  Roumauia  all  told  did 
not  exceed  400,000.  It  appeared,  however,  that  the  Roumanians,  numbering 
7,000,000  or  8,000,000,  were  fearful  of  being  overrun,  and  that  this  constituted 
the  real  objection  to  the  observance  of  the  Berlin  treaty  with  regard  to  the 
Jews.  The  adoption  of  any  naturalization  agreement  which  would  enforce  the 
rccivirnition  of  Jews  not  indigenous  to  Roumania  seems  to  have  been  objected  to 
upon  the  same  ground. 

The  failure  of  Roumania  to  treat  with  the  United  States  in  this  matter  might 
be  excused,  because  the  United  States  was  not  a  party  to  the  treaty  of  Berlin. 
At  iirst  blush  it  must  be  conceded  that  notwithstanding  the  human  rights 
involved,  to  say  nothing  of  the  breach  of  treaty  stipulations,  the  United  State.-; 
has  no  right  to  meddle  in  this  affair.  Apparently  this  thought  has  been  in  the 
minds  of  diplomats,  who,  with  the  exception  of  Mr.  Hay,  have  hitherto  ap- 
proached  the  question  with  great  delicacy.  While  Mr.  Hay  was  characteris- 
tically diplomatic,  he  was  also  extremely  frank,  and  did  not  hesitate  in  his 
instructions  to  the  American  minister  to  Greece  and  Roumania  to  point  out  the 
political  disabilities  of  the  Jews  in  Roumania  and  the  effect  of  Roumanian 
oppressive  measures  upon  their  manhood.  Mr.  Hay  even  maintained  that  by 
reason  of  the  conditions  prevailing  in  the  country  of  their  birth  many  of  them 
on i i grated  to  the  United  States,  upon  which  an  additional  responsibility  was 
imposed  because  of  such  immigration.  He  raised  the  rather  novel  point  that— 
"human  beings  so  circumstanced  have  virtually  no  alternatives  but  submissive 
suffering  or  flight  to  some  land  less  unfavorable  to  them  " — 

And  that— 

"  such  emigration  is  necessarily  for  a  time  a  burden  upon  the  community  upon 
which  fugitives  may  be  cast." 

Continuing,  Secretary  of  State  Hay  said: 

"Self-reliance  and  the  knowledge  and  ability  that  evolve  the  power  of  self- 
support  must  be  developed  and  at  the  same  time  avenues  of  employment  must 

4401—12190  (3) 


211785? 


be  opened  in  quarters  where  competition  is  already  keen  and  opportunities 
scarce.  The  teachings  of  history  and  the  experience  of  our  own  Nation  show 
that  the  Jews  possess  in  a  high  degree  the  mental  and  moral  qualifications  of 
conscientious  citizenhood.  No  class  of  emigrants  is  more  welcome  to  our 
shores  when  coming  equipped  in  mind  and  body  for  entrance  upon  the  struggle 
for  bread  and  inspired  with  the  high  purpose  to  give  the  best  service  of  heart 
and  brain  to  the  land  they  adopt  of  their  own  free  will.  But  when  they  come 
as  outcasts,  made  doubly  paupers  by  physical  and  moral  oppression  in  their 
native  land,  and  thrown  upon  the  long-suffering  generosity  of  a  more-favored 
community,  their  migration  lacks  the  essential  conditions  which  make  alien 
immigration  either  acceptable  or  benefical.  So  well  is  this  appreciated  on  the 
Continent  that  even  in  the  countries  where  antiseniitisni  has  no  foothold  it 
is  difficult  for  these  fleeing  Jews  to  obtain  any  lodgment.  America  is  their 
only  goal." 

Since  this  important  declaration  by  one  of  the  greatest  of  our  Secretaries  of 
.State  there  has  been  a  steady  flow  of  Roumanian  Jew  immigration  to  the 
United  States,  until  it  is  estimated  that  not  more  than  2r>o.<)00  or  .'JOO.OOO 
indigenous  Jews  continue  to  reside  in  Roumania.  This  is  indicative  of  their 
lack  of  opportunity  and  the  great  disadvantages  under  which  they  continue 
their  Roumanian  r<>si<!"ii!v. 

In  May  last  the  Federation  of  Roumanian  Jews  of  Philadelphia,  at  an  open 
meeting  in  that  city,  passed  resolutions  urging  Congress  to  again  take  up  the 
troublesome  problem. 

And  here  1  want  to  interpolate  that  a  meeting  of  Roumanian  Jews  was  held 
in  New  York  City  a  week  ago  at  which  considerable  feeling  was  manii 
An  organization  was  perfected,  for  which  as  honorary  chairman  was  named  the 
distinguished  Speaker  of  this  House,  the  Hon.  CHAMP  CLARK,  of  Missouri. 
Others  who  were  mentioned  as  being  officers  of  that  federation  are  our  col- 
leagues, Messrs.  GOLDFOGLE  and  LEVY,  of  New  York,  and  our  former  colleague, 
William  S.  Bennet,  Judge  Rosa! ski,  and  others. 

Mr.  CALDER.     Will  the  gentleman  yield? 

The  SPEAKER.  Does  the  gentleman  from  Pennsylvania  yield  to  the  gentle- 
man from  New  York  [Mr.  CALDEE]  ''. 

Mr.  MOORE.     I  do. 

Mr.  CALDER.  Will  the  gentleman  advise  the  House  how  many  Jews  there 
are  in  Roumania  at  this  time? 

Mr.  MOORE.  It  is  said  there  are  about  250.000  or  300.000  remaining  there. 
The  correspondence  of  Secretary  Hay  in  1902  indicated  that  there  were  -JOu.OOO. 

Mr.  CALDER.  Can  the  gentleman  state  if  the  Jews  in  Roumania  are  allowed 
to  attend  the  public  schools? 

Mr.  MOORE.  They  are  allowed  to  do  so  after  all  of  the  Roumanian  children 
are  provided  for,  but  usually  there  is  no  room  after  the  Roumanian  children 
are  taken  care  of.  As  a  rule  they  build  schools  and  pay  taxes,  hut  ilu-y  have 
no  citizenship,  no  right  to  hold  office,  no  right  to  certain  employments,  no  right 
to  own  lands,  and  •  no  right  to  ask  protection  of  any  Government.  They  are 
regarded  as  aliens  without  a  country ;  yet  they  are  indigenous,  born  to  the  soil. 

Mr.  CALDER.     Are  they  compelled  to  serve  in  the  army? 

Mr.  MOORE.  They  are  compelled  to  serve  in  the  army  and  to  endure  ail  the 
rigors  resulting  therefrom.  And  they  are  in  some  respects  frowned  upon  by 
the  population  of  Roumauia.  who  regard  them  as  ambitious  and  who  think  that 
if  any  opportunities  were  given  to  them  at  all  they  would  overflow  the  country. 

Mr.  HARRISON  of  New  York.  Is  the  gentleman  aware  that  there  is  a  com- 
mittee now  forming  in  New  York,  composed  of  American  citizens,  to  present  to 
our  country  the  views  the  gentleman  is  so  ably  expressing  upon  the  floor? 

Mr.  MOORE.  Yes;  I  know  that  to  be  the  fact.  There  was  a  large  meeting 
there  last  week,  at  which  a  permanent  organization  was  formed,  to  give  ex- 
pression to  various  grievances  of  the  Jews  who  have  left  that  country.  It  is 
a  natural  desire  of  those  who  have  left  Roumania  to  aid  those  who  have  been 
left  behind. 

Mr.  SABATH.     Will  the  gentleman  yield? 

Mr.  MOORE.     I  will. 

Mr.  SABATH.  Is  it  not  true  that  those  born  in  Roumania  are  not  recognized 
as  citizens? 

Mr.  MOORE.  That  is  true,  and  there  is  no  way  for  them  to  become  citizens, 
even  though  the  treaty  of  Berlin  required  that  they  should  not  be  prejudiced 
by  reason  of  their  religion,  except  as  I  have  stated. 

4401—12190 


They  have  only  the  right  to  go  to  Parliament  itself,  and  Parliament,  of 
course,  is  a  very  large  body,  aud,  in  a  smaller  degree,  like  the  Congress  of  the 
United  States,  which,  of  course,  would  not  have  much  time  or  inclination  to 
deal  with  the  naturalization  of  an  individual.  A  very  small  proportion  of  them 
have  obtained  the  right  in  this  way. 

Mr.  SAB  ATI  I.  Is  it  not  also  true  that  Roumauia  has  violated  the  Berlin 
treaty  tirno  ;.<!id  time  again? 

Mr.  MOORE.  There  is  no  doubt  about  that.  The  Roumanian  Government 
desires  to  avoid  dealing  with  other  nations  on  this  question  at  all.  I  have 
quoted  Secretary  Hay  as  showing  one  point  upon  which  it  might  be  possible  for 
the  United  States  to  intervene.  In  11)02  the  Secretary  did  undertake  to  have 
the  signatory  powers  approach  Romnania;  but  it  is  not  certain  that  any  of 
them  did  this  with  any  enthusiasm,  although  every  one  of  the  signatory  powers 
to  tho  Berlin  treaty  except  Romnania  did  live  up  to  the  agreement,  which  pro- 
vided that  Jews  should  not  bo  debarred  from  citizenship. 

Mr.  GOLDFOGLE.     Will  the  gentleman  yield? 

The  SPEAKER.     The  time  of  the  gentleman  from  Pennsylvania  has  expired. 

Mr.  GOLDFOGLE.  Mr.  Speaker,  I  ask  unanimous  consent  that  the  gentle- 
man be  permitted  to  conclude  his  remarks. 

The  SPEAKER.  The  gentleman  from  New  York  asks  unanimous  consent 
that  the  gentleman  from  Pennsylvania  be  permitted  to  conclude  his  remarks. 
Is  there  objection?  [After  a  pause.]  The  Chair  hears  none. 

Mr.  GOLDFOGLE.  Mr.  Speaker,  will  the  gentleman  now  yield  for  a  ques- 
tion? 

The  SPEAKER.     Does  the  gentleman  yield? 

Mr.  MOORE.     I   do. 

Mr.  GOLDFOGLE.  Did  not  Secretary  Hay.  while  of  course  conceding  that 
America  was  not  a  parly  to  the  treaty,  take  the  ground  that  the  United  States 
might  well  appeal  to  the  powers  to  require  the  observance  of  the  Berlin  treaty 
upon  principles  of  international  law  and  principles  of  natural  justice? 

Mr.  MOORE.  He  tcok  that  ground  substantially,  and  was  even  a  little 
more  spev-itio.  He  indicated  that  inasmuch  as  the  effect  of  the  oppression  of 
the  Jews  by  the  Roumanian  Government  was  to  make  them  restless  and  drive 
them  out,  in  consequence  of  which  many  of  them  came  to  the  United  States, 
that  therefore  the  United  States  had  an  interest  in  them  and  in  the  rights 
which  they  claimed  were  denied  them. 

Mr.  GOLDFOGLE.  Following  the  line  of  questions  put  before  to  the  gen- 
tleman from  Pennsylvania,  I  would  like  to  ask  the  gentleman  whether  it  is  not 
a  fact. that  freedom  of  worship  is  denied  to  the  Jew  in  Roumania  and  that  the 
Jew  there  is  in  this  position :  That  while  born  there,  he  is,  nevertheless, 
regarded  as  an  alien  and  is  at  the  same  time  denied  all  foreign  protection? 

Mr.  MOO  I  IE.  That  is  substantially  true.  He  is  a  native  and  still  without 
the  protection  of  any  country  on  earth.  He  was  born  in  Roumania.  He  has 
been  there  since  the  eighth  century,  and  yet  ha  has  no  right  of  citizenship, 
except  as  Parliament  shall  grant  that  right  to  the  individual,  and  he  is  still 
amenable  to  any  punishment  that  may  be  imposed  upon  him  by  the  Govern- 
ment. He  has  not  the  right  to  appeal  to  a  foreign  power.  He  stands  alone— 
"  a  man  without  a  country.'' 

Mr.  MANX.     Mr.  Speaker,  will  the  gentleman  yield? 

The  SPEAKER.  Does  the  gentleman  from  Pennsylvania  yield  to  the  gentle- 
man from  Illinois? 

Mr.  MOO  HE.     I  do. 

Mr.  MANX.  The  gentleman  refers  to  the  Roumanian  Jew  as  "a  man  with- 
out a  country  "  while  he  is  in  Roumania.  How  does  he  become  a  citizen  of 
the  United  States? 

Mr.  MOORE.  He  becomes  a  citizen  of  the  United  States  when  he  has  been 
here  five  years,  if  he  applies — 

Mr.  MANX.  "A  man  without  a  country"  can  not  become  a  citizen  of  tho 
United  States  from  anywhere. 

Mr.  MOORE.  If  the  laws  of  the  United  States  were  strictly  enforced  in  regard 
to  Jews,  subject  to  Roumanian  law.  who  were  not  citizens  of  Roumauia,  it  might 
be  difficult  for  them  to  forswear  their  country. 

Mr.  MA  XX.  The  laws  of  naturalization  are  strictly  enforced,  I  may  say  to 
the  gentleman. 

Mr.  MOORE.     Then  the  question  of  humanity  arises  and  tho  effect  upon  the 
United  States  Government,  which  thus  has  received  within  its  borders  men  who 
are  citizens  of  no  country  at  all. 
4401— moo 


Mr.  GOLDFOGLE.  Mr.  Speaker,  may  I  interrupt  the  gentleman  from  Penn- 
sylvania in  order  to  make  a  suggestion  to  the  gentleman  from  Illinois? 

The  SPEAK KH.     Does  the  gentleman  from  Pennsylvania  yield? 

Mr.  MOORE.     Yes. 

Mr.  GOLDFOGLE.  In  the  eyes  of  the  law,  as  the  gentleman  from  Illinois 
well  says,  the  individual  Jew  born  in  Rouinauia  is  a  subject  of  the  King  of 
Rouniania,  so  that  when  he  conies  here  and  applies  for  naturalization  in  due 
time  he  may  well  be  regarded  in  the  eyes  of  our  law  as  a  subject  of  the  King 
of  Eoumania  and  foreswear  his  allegiance  to  him. 

Mr.  MANN.  Of  course  there  is  no  doubt  about  it.  and  I  simply  thought  the 
gentleman  from  Pennsylvania  was  using  a  little  hyperbole  when  he  was  talking 
about  "  a  man  without  a  country  "  when  he  was  born  in  Iloumauia. 

Mr.  GOLDFOGLE.     That  is  the  practical  effect. 

Mr.  MOORE.  I  will  quote  what  is  given  to  me  as  to  the  political  status 
of  the  Jew  of  Roumauia.  As  regarded  by  that  Government,  he  is  "  an  alien, 
not  subject  to  any  foreign  protection."  That  partly  answers  the  gentleman's 
question,  but  later  I  will  submit  other  data. 

Mr.  MONDELL.    Mr.  Speaker,  will  the  gentleman  yield? 

Mr.  MANN.     Does  the  gentleman  yield? 

The  SPEAKER.    To  whom  does  the  gentleman  from  Pennsylvania  yield? 

Mr.  MOORE.     I  will  yield  first  to  the  gentleman  from  Illinois  [Mr.  MANN]. 

Mr.  MANN.  I  have  no  doubt  the  gentleman  has  quoted  correctly,  but  I  would 
doubt  the  correctness  of  the  authority.  If  the  Jew  is  a  Roumanian  when  he 
comes  here,  there  is  no  way  by  which  he  could  become  a  naturalized  citizen  of 
the  United  States.  I  do  not  think  that  that  is  the  case. 

Mr.  MOORE.  The  fact  remains  that  the  Roumanian  Jew  is  not  a  citizen  of 
Rouniania  unless  he  is  specially  qualified  by  the  Parliament. 

Mr.  MANN.     I  question  that. 

Mr.  MONDELL.     Mr.  Speaker,  will  the  gentleman  yield? 

Mr.  MOORE.     Yes. 

Mr.  MONDELL.  Would  it  not  be  more  accurate  to  say,  on  the  basis  of  the 
facts  that  the  gentleman  has  stated,  that  the  Roumanian  Jew  is  a  man  without 
citizenship  who  can  become  naturalized  under  our  law  because  he  is  unquestiou- 
bly  a  subject  of  Roumauia,  but  not  a  citizen  of  Rouniania ;  but  as  a  man  who, 
without  possessing  citizenship,  is  still  a  subject,  he  may  thus  become  naturalized 
under  our  laws? 

Mr.  MOORE.  I  thank  the  gentleman  for  distinguishing  between  a  citizen 
and  a  subject.  The  two  gentlemen  who  have  addressed  this  question  to  me  are 
lawyers  and  qualified  to  pass  upon  naturalization  questions. 

Mr.  MONDELL.     The  gentleman  who  last  spoke  is  not  a  lawyer. 

Mr.  MOORE.  It  is  not  the  most  lucrative  practice  at  the  bar  and  it  is  a  kind 
of  practice  which  most  lawyers  hesitate  to  indulge  in,  with  the  result  that  pos- 
sibly there  may  be  quibbles  when  great  lawyers  undertake  to  decide  these 
questions  here. 

Mr.  MONDELL.     The  gentleman  who  last  spoke  is  not  a  lawyer. 

Mr.  MOORE.     He  talks  like  a  lawyer,  and  just  as  well  as  a  lawyer. 

Mr.  MANN.  He  talks  better  than  a  lawyer,  but  he  is  not  one.  Both  the 
gentleman  from  Pennsylvania  [Mr.  MOORE]  and  the  gentleman  from  Wyoming 
[Mr.  MONDELL]  talk  better  than  lawyers — and  talk  more.  [Laughter.] 

Mr.  MONDELL.     What  I  have  said  is  merely  the  opinion  of  a  layman. 

The  SPEAKER.  Both  gentlemen  not  only  talk  well,  but  both  talk  at  once, 
which  is  contrary  to  the  rule.  [Laughter.] 

Mr.  MOORE.  I  desire  to  conclude  this  address  in  10  minutes,  having  prom- 
ised not  to  occupy  the  time  of  the  House  longer  than  that,  and  so  I  ask  at  this 
point  to  revise  and  extend  my  remarks. 

The  SPEAKER.  The  gentleman  from  Pennsylvania  asks  unanimous  consent 
to  extend  his  remarks.  Is  there  objection? 

There  was  no  objection. 

Mr.  MOORE.  Mr.  Speaker,  I  shall  append  to  these  remarks  some  of  the 
statements  authorized  by  the  officers  of  the  federation.  They  plead  for  the 
friendly  intercession  of  the  United  States  on  behalf  of  their  brethren  who  have 
not  been  so  fortunate  as  to  pass  from  the  Roumanian  borders  to  the  United 
States.  It  is  in  their  interest  that  I  have  introduced  the  resolution  requesting 
the  Secretary  of  State  to  inform  the  House  whether  it  is  not  time  to  renew 
the  effort  to  do  an  act  of  simple  justice  to  the  unfortunate  Jews  of  Roumauia. 
[Applause.] 

_  4401—12190 


A    000  099  722     1 


BASIS   OF    Til?:   GRIEVANCES. 

From  a  statement  submitted  to  mo  by  the  Federation  of  Roumanian  Jewg 
of  Philadelphia,  of  which  Dr.  M.  Y.  Bolbor  is  president,  A.  B.  Gohlenberg.  secre- 
tary, and  Samuel  Shoyer,  treasurer,  these  cliief  points  of  grievance  are  taken: 

First.  At  the  Berlin  congress  of  isTs  the  high  contracting  powers  decreed  in 
article  44  of  the  treaty  that  religion  shall  bar  none  from  the  full  enjoyment  of 
the  rights  and  privileges  of  citizenship  in  Roumania. 

Second.  The  Roumanian  Government  has  to  this  date  failed  to  execute  the 
provisions  of  article  44  of  the  Berlin  treaty  by  denying  its  native  subjects  of 
the  Jewish  faith  the  rights  and  privileges  of  citizenship  enjoyed  by  the  rest  of 
the  population. 

Third.  The  present  political  status  of  the  native  Jews  of  and  within  Ron- 
mania  is  defined  by  the  Roumanian  Government  as  "aliens  m>t  subject  to  any 
foreign  protection."-  thereby  expatriating  tliem  from  their  land  of  nativity, 
denying  them  allegiance  to  or  protecti.ni  from  any  other  government. 

Fourth.  Over  ~<;o  governmental  restrictions  are  now  in  force  against  the 
native  Jewish  inhabitants,  which  deny  them  every  human  right  and  close  to 
them  almosi  every  avenue  of  earning  a  livelihood  in  Koumania. 

The  statement  of  detailed  facts  submitted  by  the  federation  also  constitutes 
the  argument  for  the  friendly  intercession  of  the  United  States.  It  is  as 
follows : 

STATKMKXT    OF    FACTS    AROUT    THK   JEWISH    «JT*KSTIOX    IN    KOUMANIA. 

"When  the  Riisso-Turkish  War  broke  out  in  1S77.  Russia  claimed  that  her 
only  object  in  fighting  the  Turks  w:;s  to  free  the  Christ i:;ns  from  Mussulmanic 
oppression.  Koumania.  then  a  tributary  .State  of  Turkey,  fought  by  the  side  of 
Russia  for  tin-  same  reasons. 

"On  the  1st  day  of  July.  isTS.  while  the  peace  congress  was  in  progress  at 
Berlin,  lemeiubering  that  the  Jews  of  Roumania  were  the  subject  of  persecu- 
tion under  the  Roumanian  rule,  as  were  the  Christians  under  that  of  the 
Turks.  M.  Waddington,  the  French  plenipotentiary,  arose  and  moved  that  re- 
ligion shall  be  no  bar  to  tho  enjoyment  of  all  civil  and  political  rights  in 
Roumania.  The  motion  was  seconded  by  Benjamin  Disraeli  [Lord  Beacousfield] 
for  England.  A  similar  motion  was  made  for  Servia.  Bulgaria,  and  Montenegro 
by  M.  Waddington  for  Fran.'  'onded  by  Bismarck  for  Germany  aud 

de  Lan:!;:y  for  Italy.  As  regards  Roumania.  the  provision  is  incorporated 
under  article  J4  of  th  '  treaty  of  Berlin.  Koumania  was  given  independence 
under  article  4-'>  of  the  same  treaty,  subject  to  the  faithful  observance  of 
article  44. 

"The  treaty  was  signed  by  Fngl.md,  France,  Germany,  Russia,  Austria, 
Italy,  and  Turkey. 

"Servia.  Bulgaria,  and  Montenegro  had  faithfully  observed  the  mandate  of 
the  powers.  Roumania  alone  ignored  it. 

"After  }•;  •-oncliided.  K<"MI:;M-!:I  amended  article  7  of  her  constitution, 

which  reads,  in  substance  an  ,  ihat  Parliament  alone  shall  confer  the 

rights  of  citizenship,  and  that  only  upon  individual  applications.  The  Jews 
were  not  lo  be  enfranchised  en  masse,  as  was  the  sense  of  the  treaty.  Since 
IsTS  until  (lie  beginning  of  the  present  Turko-Balkan  War  about  200  Jews 
were  naturalized  by  this  moiho.l  and  only  a  couple  of  hundred  more  since  the 
two  month1-!,  which,  of  course,  is  only  intended  to  throw  dust  in  the  eyes 
of  Europe. 

THE  RESTRICTIONS. 

"Jews  have  no  right  to  vote  or  hold  public  office,  be  it  ever  so  humble.  They 
are  not  given  any  contract  work  by  the  Government,  even  if  they  do  it  5  per 
cent  cheaper  than  the  Roumanians.  They  can  not  be  employed  in  the  railroad, 
postal,  telephone,  or  tel<-  rvice.  They  can  not  own  land,  live  or  do 

business  in  villages,  or  even  hire  out  as  laborers  upon  farms.  They  are  not 
admitted  into  the  State's  schools  until  all  th;»  c.'iildr.Mi  of  the  Roumanians  are 
accommodated,  and  then  only  upon  the  payment  of  a  tax.  There  are  not  many 
schools  there,  so  the  Jewish  children  are  generally  left  out.  So  they  must, 
maintain  their  own  schools,  and  yet  pay  taxes  to  support  the  Government's 
schools.  From  certain  State  schools,  such  as  manual  training,  the  Jewish 
children  are  excluded  altogether. 

"  The  law  prohibits  any  factory,  even  if  it  be  owned  by  a  Jew,  to  have  in  its 
employ  more  than  one-third  Jews  of  the  entire  personnel.  Jews  may  not  be 
lawyers,  not  even  clerks  to  lawyers;  they  may  not  own  pharmacies;  they  may 
4-101—12100 


not  engage  in  the  sale  of  tobacco  or  matches — government  monopoly;  Jews 
must  serve  in  the  army,  but  may  hold  no  rank  higher  than  private;  they  ;ire 
subject  to  expulsion  within  VI  or  l!4  hours  for  anything  said  or  written  politi- 
cally displeasing  to  the  (government,  and  other  restrictions,  over  200  in  number; 
they  must  pay  all  taxes  the  same  as  the  rest  of  the  population  who  are  citizens. 

"Let  it  be  understood  that  there  are  no  laws  in  Roumania  against  'Jews,' 
but  only  against  'aliens.'     The  law  reads  that  only  Roumanians  or  naturalized 
Roumanians  may  do  this  or  that  or  the  other.     The  Jews  are  considered  '  aliens 
not  subject  to  any  foreign  protection.'     Before  the  Berlin  congress  the  ,1 
Roumania  were  considered  as  Roumanian  subjects. 

'•  The  condition  of  the  Jews  in  Roumania  is  worse  to-day  than  it  has  been 
previous  to  the  Berlin  congress. 

"  The  position  of  the  Jews  in  Roumania  is  worse  than  that  of  the  Jews  in 
Russia.  The  latter  enjoy  in  Russia  many  rights  which  are  denied  to  the  Jiiws 
in  Roumania.  The  Russian  Jews,  are  Russian  citizens,  with  the  right  to  vote 
and  be  represented  in  the  Duma ;  in  fact,  Jews  have  served  as  deputies  in 
the  Duma  of  Russia. 

"  The  Jews  have  lived  in  Roumania  for  centuries— their  history  there  dates 
back  to  the  eighth  century. 

"The  Jews  have  helped  develop  the  country.  To  them  alone  belongs  the 
credit  of  Roumania's  present  commercial  and  industrial  life.  They  have  given 
her  the  best  in  its  literature  and  drama. 

"  Strange  as  it  may  seem,  the  statesmen  who  oppose  the  enfranchisement 
of  Jews  are  not  themselves  of  pure  Roumanian  blood.  Most  of  them  are  the 
descendants  of  the  Greek,  Russian,  Bulgarian,  and  Armenian  invaders  of  old 
who  exploited  the  poor  Roumanian  peasants  to  the  last  drop  of  their  blood. 
The  King  of  Roumania  is  himself  a  foreigner — Charles,  a  prince  of  the  German 
house  of  Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen,  imported  to  Roumania  in  lsr>(>. 

"  Roumania  has  a  population  of  7,000,000,  of  which  250,000  are  Jews.  About 
70  per  cent  of  the  population  is  engaged  in  agriculture,  except  the  Jews.  It  is 
a  constitutional  monarchy;  has  a  Parliament  with  two  branches,  a  chamber  of 
deputies  and  a  senate.  The  cabinet  is  responsible  to  Parliament.  There  is 
free  speech  and  free  press.  The  Jews  are  prohibited  these  privileges;  that  is, 
they  may  make  speeches  and  publish  newspapers,  but  may  not  say  anything 
displeasing  to  the  Government  on  penalty  of  expulsion. 

"The  Government  fosters  and  encourages  anti-Semitic  agitations.  The  Jew 
can  not  lay  much  claim  to  protection  from  the  mob  at  the  hands  of  the  Gov- 
ernment Anyone  may  abuse  a  Jew.  Some  time  ago  a  colonel  in  the  Rou- 
manian Army  slapped  a  civilian  four  times  across  the  face  in  a  street  car  and 
then  offered  the  apology,  '  I  thought  you  were  a  Jew,'  after  he  discover/', 
his  victim  happened  to  be  a  gentile. 

"A  highwayman  was  recently  tried  at  Botoshany,  Roumania.  and  his  defense 
was  that  he  only  robbed  Jews.  The  public  prosecutor  in  vai  .^1  to 

prove  that  his  victims  were  also  gentiles,  for  the  court  acquitted  him." 

THE    RESOLUTION. 

To  this  statement  I  append  a  copy  of  the  resolution  drawing  the  attention  of 
the  State  Department  to  this  problem  and  asking  for  information. 
[House  resolution  183,  Sixty-third  Congress,  first  session.] 

I.\    THE   HOUSE   OF    REriiESEVTATIVns. 

1913. 

Mr.  MOORE  submitted  the  following  resolution,  which  was  referred  to  the  Co-iunit'-e 
on  Foreign  Affairs  and  ordered  to  be  printed  : 

Resolution  requesting  the  Secretary  of  State  to  inform  the  House  as  to  the  Berlin  treaty 
of  1878  with  respect  to  Jews  in   Roumania. 

TVhereas  it  is  reported  that  the  Roumanian  Government  has  failed  to  observe  that  article 
of  the  treaty  of  Berlin  (1878)  which  provides  lhat  religion  shall  be  no  bar  to  the 
rights  and  privileges  of  citizenship  in  Roumania  :  and 

Whereas   the   failure   of   i\\s   Roumanian    Government   to   observe    the    provisions    of   the 
Berlin  treaty  would  be  discriminatory  aw  against  the  native  .lews  of  Koumania    aff 
them  prejudicially  in  matters  of  employment  and  preferment:   Tli<-r 

Resolved,  That  the  Secretary  of  State  he  requested  to  inform  the  l!ou-r  whether  anv 
communication  has  been  had  with  the  Roumanian  Government  or  tin  nator'v 

to  the  treaty  of  Berlin  in  relation  to  the  observance  of  said  treat  v.  or  with  respert  to  a 
naturalization  convention  between   the   United   States   and   the   Roumanian    • 
and  if  so,  and  no  conclusions  have  been  reached  thereon,  whether  the    i 
such  interests  with  respect  to  said  treaty  and  the  operation  thereof  as  to  make  further 
diplomatic  negotiations  desirable. 
4401—12190 

o 


